Dakota County Law Library
Collection Development Policy
May 2015
I. Introduction
A. Mission of the Dakota County Law Library
To provide adequate and timely legal information to the judiciary, governmental
employees, the members of the bar and the citizens of Dakota County, in the form most
comprehensible to all types of users, bearing in mind that ready and convenient access
to such information is vital to the justice system of a democratic society
To collaborate with existing organizations to maximize the delivery of legal information
and to avoid costly and ineffective duplication
To utilize information technology to deliver legal information wherever financially feasible
and acceptable to users
B. Purpose of the Collection Development Policy
This policy is intended to serve as a guide to the acquisition and retention of
materials as well as the development of the Dakota County Law Library collections in
Hastings and Apple Valley. The law library's acquisitions policies are based upon the
needs of the law library and the needs of the public, courts, and county.
The Dakota County Law Library is constantly growing and changing in response to
increased population and new information technologies. The Collection Development
Policy must be a "living document" that grows and changes to meet the needs of the law
library. The law librarian will continuously review and revise the policy as needed to
respond to new resources, technologies, and patron demands.
II. Collection Development Principles
A. Responsibility for Selection
The Dakota County Law Library Manager (hereinafter "Library Manager”) is responsible
for review and selection of materials for purchase. The Library Manager will abide by
the criteria stated in these guidelines. All purchases must be in the best interest of the
Dakota County Law Library and are subject to the discretionary review of the Dakota
County Law Library Board of Trustees. The Library Manager will solicit and welcome
suggestions and recommendations from staff, and the public and legal community for
the acquisition and retention of materials.
B. The Law Library's Relationship to the Bench and Bar
The Dakota County Law Library is a county entity that provides the largest public legal
research collection in the county. As a full service legal research facility, the law library
recognizes a responsibility to the bench and bar of the county. Attorneys and judges are
welcome to use the collection and facilities of the law library.
C. The Law Library's Relationship to Other Minnesota Libraries
The law library relies heavily upon the public libraries in Dakota County to distribute
family legal materials produced by the Conference of Chief Judges to assist pro se
patrons. The library also relies heavily upon the collections and services of the
Minnesota State Law Library, particularly the cataloging support and outreach services
of the State Law Library. For reference requests not satisfied by the Dakota County Law
Library collection, other law libraries in the metro area are consulted. These include the
academic law libraries in the region, the state law library, and other county law libraries.
The law library also cooperates with staff in other law libraries located in the first judicial
district to assist with library organization and reference requests.
D. Interlibrary Loan
The law library cannot own all materials requested or needed by its users. When
information is not in the library's collection, the law library will attempt to locate the
material in the metropolitan area. The law library interlibrary loans materials as a last
resort. Any charges incurred in this process may be billed back to the requesting patron.
E. Selection Criteria for Law Library Materials
1. Potential use by the bench, bar, county government and community
2. Significance of the subject matter (Minnesota priority)
3. Availability of other materials on the subject
4. Relevance to the collection
5. Reputation of the author
6. Reputation of the publisher or producer
7. Appearance of the title in review sources
8. Currency and permanent value
9. Availability of alternative formats (e.g., Internet or electronic sources)
10. Price
11. Format and technical support
12. Physical quality
13. Duplication
14. Available space
15. Maintenance
F. Current Materials v. Retrospective Materials
The law library will purchase current materials to develop two core areas: current
materials for ongoing collections already in the library; and new titles for areas that are
new or developing interests. Current materials will have priority over historic and
retrospective materials. However, the library will purchase retrospective materials to
replace older volumes missing from essential core collections.
G. Media
The law library acquires materials for the most effective, efficient access. While cost
efficiencies may impact a choice of format, it is not the only consideration that applies in
selection. The library collection includes materials in all formats. Some users prefer
print over the electronic and vice versa. Formats available at present include traditional
books, periodicals and computer accessed materials.
1. Computerized Resources
The law library subscribes to Westlaw for staff and patron use at the Hastings
and Apple Valley locations. Each subscription includes full state and federal
primary law plus important secondary sources, practice materials and analytical
materials in many legal subjects. The duplication of some print resources in
electronic form allows patrons to use the format with which they are most
comfortable. Criteria for choosing electronic resources include user need, ease
of access, comprehensiveness, and cost. Cost and access issues may preempt
user need in deciding whether or not the library acquires materials in electronic
format.
2. Microforms
The law library does not own any equipment for viewing microforms. Microforms
will be purchased at the discretion of the law librarian if the source is not
available in the metropolitan area. The law library prefers electronic and print
formats.
3. Computer Software
The law library purchases computer software as needed for internal
administrative use.
H. Duplication and Multiple Copies
The library generally avoids duplication of print materials for the library collections,
except that both law library locations have core Minnesota materials in print. Additional
copies are purchased if experience demonstrates that there is high user demand for an
item.
I. Gifts and Donations
The librarian may accept gifts without conditions from the donor. Gifts may be used in
any appropriate way for the support of the law library. The law library's collection
development policy fully applies to gifts and donations. The librarian will not assign a
monetary value or appraise donated materials. Written acknowledgment may be
provided to the donor.
J. Weeding the Collection
The law library will weed materials that need to be removed or withdrawn. These
included outdated, worn or damaged materials. Weeding determinations are based
upon the following factors:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Potential use by the bench, bar, and community
Significance of the subject matter
Availability of other materials on the subject
Relevance to the collection
Current and permanent value
Price
7. Physical quality
8. Duplication
9. Available space
10. Circulation record
K. Print versus Electronic Resources
The law library has successfully implemented a program that utilizes electronic legal
information resources. The electronic format has increased access to remote law library
users through the use of networked and web-based electronic resources. For library
resources not duplicated in print, the electronic format has also provided the ability to
conserve space. However, the law library is committed to providing a core print
collection that is available to all library users, including judges, attorneys, government
employees and the public. For some individuals, print resources are easier to use.
Many legal materials are not available in electronic format. Where electronic alternatives
exist, print also serves as a backup for essential materials when electronic access is
temporarily disrupted. Once purchased, they are retained as an archive for future use.
In some cases, the print materials are a more cost effective alternative to electronic
research.
III. Policies for Specific Types of Resources
A. Legal Treatises
The law library will acquire and maintain a basic collection of general, multi-jurisdictional,
federal substantive treatises covering all legal subject areas. Redundancy of coverage
will be permitted if warranted by demand, especially in the areas of civil, criminal,
evidentiary, and municipal law. The library will acquire and maintain a comprehensive
collection of Minnesota treatises.
B. Practice Materials
The law library will maintain core practice materials, including general, federal, and multijurisdictional and Minnesota materials. The law library also maintains a standing order
for all CLEs published by the Minnesota State Bar Association. These are kept for
approximately five years.
C. Hornbooks
The law library will keep one copy of the most current hornbook for all major subject
specialties in the collection.
D. Directories
The law library keeps one national directory of attorneys and one state listing. The
library maintains a limited reference collection of all other current legal directories.
Superseded editions of directories will be withdrawn from the collection.
E. Citators
The only available citator is KeyCite through WestNext. Shepard's Citator is no longer
being updated as of 2014.
F. Digests
The library maintains digests for the state of Minnesota, including Dunnell Minnesota
Digest and the Minnesota Digest by West. The library also has Federal Practice Digest
and Northwestern Digest. The law library will evaluate a need for a U.S. Supreme Court
Digest.
G. Legal Encyclopedias
The library maintains both sets of the national legal encyclopedias. State legal
encyclopedias are maintained. At present, Dunnell's Minnesota Digest resembles
content often found in state legal encyclopedias and is maintained by the law library.
H. Restatements, Uniform Laws, and Model Acts
The library maintains a comprehensive collection of the most recent Restatements. The
library also retains all prior editions of Restatements. The law library also has electronic
versions of the Uniform Laws and the Model Acts.
I. Journals and Periodicals
The library subscribes to the four general law reviews published by law schools in
Minnesota. These materials will be bound for permanent retention by the library. The
library will also purchase other general law reviews that become available from any
additional law schools.
J. Newspapers
The library subscribes to one general newspaper, one official state legal newspaper and
one national legal newspaper. The library selectively acquires other legal newspapers.
K. Periodical Indexes
The library maintains a copy of the Minnesota Legal Periodical Index published by the
Minnesota State Law Library. For national coverage, the library relies on the Westlaw
database for access to law reviews and legal periodicals.
L. Loose-leaf Services
The library acquires and maintains a number of loose-leaf services that provide
coverage unique to the collection or that provide necessary materials more currently and
easily than otherwise available. Loose-leaf subscriptions are reviewed annually. Priority
is given for loose-leaf materials that pertain to Minnesota legal issues.
M. Dictionaries
The law library will acquire the latest edition of Black's Law Dictionary for the reference
collection. A limited collection of foreign language dictionaries and abbreviation
dictionaries are included in the reference collection. The library also has one up to date
general English language dictionary.
IV. Collection Development by Subject
The subject areas of the collection address the needs of the patrons of the law library. As new
subject areas develop, new resources will be added based upon patron needs. Subject
materials in high demand include family law, legal practice, Minnesota law, criminal law,
evidence, property, landlord/tenant, insurance, and estate planning and probate law.
V. Collection Development by Jurisdiction
A. Federal--the law library collects the constitution, code, session laws, statutes, court
rules, court decisions, regulations, and selected treatises.
B. Minnesota--the law library collects the constitution, code, session laws, statutes,
court decisions, regulations, attorney general opinions, and selected treatises.
C. Local Ordinances--the law library maintains a print collection of the ordinances for
all cities and townships in Dakota County. This complies with Minnesota Statute §
375.52.
C. Other--Wisconsin--the law library maintains an electronic version of the Wisconsin
statutes. The North Western Reporter covers Wisconsin case law.
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Core Collection
(Based upon standards set by the American Association of Law Libraries; see Law Library
Journal, Volume 88:4, 1996.)
A. Minnesota Legal Materials
1. The published decisions of state courts.
2. Current statutory compilation. A complete set of older statutory compilations and
superseded volumes of current compilations.
3. A complete set of session laws, including a current session law service, if available.
4. The state digest.
5. The state legal encyclopedia.
6. Shepard's Citations or Keycite.
7. Current state administrative code.
8. Published decisions of state administrative agencies.
9. Attorney General Opinions.
10. State and local bar publications and ethics opinions.
11. Significant state-oriented legal treatises and practice materials.
12. Selected legal periodicals and newspapers.
13. Court rules and significant state court publications, including annual reports, judicial
statistics, policy statements, and bench books.
14. County and municipal codes, charters, by-laws or ordinances.
15. State-oriented reference tools including state government manual, legal/social
services directories, city and/or county directory.
B. Federal Legal Publications
1. Official or another reporter of the decisions of the United States Supreme Court.
2. A Supreme Court Digest.
3. United States Code and at least one annotated version.
4. Statutes at Large or other federal session law service.
5. All published decisions of the U.S. District Courts, U.S. Courts of Appeal, and U.S.
Bankruptcy Courts.
6. Federal case digest.
7. Federal Register, Code of Federal Regulations.
8. Shepard's Citations for reports and codes held by the library.
9. U.S. Government Manual.
C. General United States publications
1. Units of the National Reporter System for Minnesota.
2. American Digest System units.
3. Current statutory compilations for contiguous states.
4. American Jurisprudence 2d and/or Corpus Juris Secundum.
5. General legal forms set.
6. ABA/BNA Lawyers Manual of Professional Conduct.
7. American Law Institute Restatements.
8. Set of uniform and model laws.
9. A basic collection of legal texts, treatises, practice materials and loose-leaf services
of contemporary value on subjects of interest to the legal community.
10. A broad selection of legal periodical titles.
11. A legal periodical index.
12. Shepard's Citations for units held by the library.
13. Legal reference tools including dictionaries, thesaurus, judicial biographical
directories, legal abbreviations, legal quotations, and Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory.
14. General reference tools, including unabridged dictionary, atlas, almanac, statistical
abstracts.
15. A collection of general legal and self-help titles on subjects of interest to the public
and pro se litigant.
Comments: "The materials listed above are recommended as the basis for a strong county law
library collection. The list may be used as a checklist for collection evaluation purposes, but
should not be used to limit the scope or growth of a collection that meets or exceeds the
materials. Alternative forms of publication or cooperative agreements with libraries within a
geographic area will satisfy the collection requirements if staff is available to assist users in
effectively accessing resources, including off-site resources."